Duplicate bill stamper and cutter



A ril 30, 1935. E. D. GIBSON DUPLICATE BILL STAMPER AND CUTTER Filed Feb. '21, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet l April 30, 1935. E. D. GIBSON 1,999,992

DUPLICATE BILL STAMPER AND CUTTER Filed Feb. 21, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 I giwuento'o April 30, 1935. E. D. GIBSON DUPLICATE BILL STAMPER AND CUTTER 4 Shee ts-Sheet 3 Filed Feb. 21, 1930 I [WWW m n Md.

April 30, E D GlBsQN DUPLICATE BILL STAMPER AND CUTTER Filed Feb. 21, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Apr. 30, 1 935 a emw es: Mk

Application February 21, 1930, Serial-1N0; 430-,168e

14'Claims; (C1: 101%301) This invention relates to adevice for simul-t' tanecusly printing; or stamping, independently;

thebody and the stub of a duplicate bill; com-' monly, known .as a :coupon? and simultaneously r .pcuttingiofi the: stamped stub and collecting the same in,- adrawer for purposes of filing.- n

One -object of this-invention is :toprovide a rapidand convenient means of turningtheprinting-;block-.face.--up,when desired, ,so 'aStO permit OfriHSIJBCfiHg; cleaning, repairing oraltering the type-of; thesame. V

A-inrtherobject ofthe inventionis to provide a-.-convenien-t-:means of removingthe printing block which carries its-companion pair of-type faces and replacingthesame by a printing block carrying-another pair of "typefaces.

Another object of the invention'is toiprovide-acutting knife which will continuouslyoperate" sharply-and smoothlyeven when the: parts :have' 1 become 1 considerably: worn through use.

In the accompanying drawings: Fig.- l is a right side elevation of :the invention shewn inipositionnreadyyfor the insertion of'a duplicate bill.

Fig. 2sisfia front elevatinn: thereof. 1 Fig 3 r is :a -top;;p1a-nthereof.

Fig;v 4 is --afragmentary left-side; elevation of the invention,showingnthe printingwutting posirtionrindotted linesn 5is -:a-;-similar.,- fragmentary; left side -elevation; font :with: the actuating :parts thrown: into di-fierent position, whereby; as thev printing-, head is :moved.iorwardlygpintosthez dottedline position, the printing g-blockds turned vface-up:

ti-on= cf the invention taken on line 6 6, Fig. 3.

Fig: '7 1 is -a szsimila-rg sect-ion; indicated: by :line l -"1,; Fig. 3 but with the parts set as:in--.Fig. 5') for reversal of :theprintingeblock'. r

Fig; 8is a vertical,:longitudinal section through the-printinghead and block; taken on 1ine8; 8; Fig- 6:

Fig; 9 is-a fragmentary-perspective:oiwthe parts:

controlling; the movement iOf sthetprinting zheadi In; :the: following; description, similar characters of n'eierence-indicate .like' partsrinttheseveral.

figures of itheidrawings. c'

Whenclebit statements or bills rare-sent 01112 at the: beginning 1 of" each vnzloi'zth by public utilitiesi corporations it: is" customary to" print these-bills :uponansingle; stifi, maila-ble cardor a r single, flexible-sheet with the important data: written thereonrinzduplicate, i. e;, on "the main abody" of the card and" also: onthe stub; thereof; twe :pantsjnzxconibination icon-".-

' corporation; while the main :bod-y-;:of :theduplij ing,,-repairing;or:alteringits'type race;

' cate bill 6 (indicated :by dotted :lines :in' Fig, '3) 1 stitutewhat-may be: denominatedc a duplicate bill.- When this duplicate"; bill-is returned: from ,the consumer with a payment: by tanappropriate, check or 3 money. :order to. the cor-f r poration, each-pi :the two :parts of-t -said-fbill-are-, stamped :suitably; with=,,for-instance;- the words received -etc.- V'I'hisrstamping, in effect, changes the duplicate bill into a duplicate 1 receipt; the stub cthereof being :cut off and: retained byuthercate receipt iis sen-t (out i to :the consumerijas'za; notification {or acknowledgement :to ,himwthat'his 1 billhas-been-ipaid'and reeeivedr. g The present invention effects: this;-.:;.dup1icate-; stamping and cutting; in 'ag-more expeditious rand satisiactorymanner thamheretofore; particularly;- as relates to theoperation of either changing; the

wholevprinting block carryingrthe-duplicate-sw ne? face, or o'f-iturningwsaid printing -;block "facaup; $01 as to: permit of; conveniently inspecting, clean-1' Theamainiframe ofthis timproveduduplicatqe:bill stamperand "cutter comprises ;a 'rectangulari-box like structure "I 6 provided yvithw-a fiat-upper deck: or'table H. Upon .thevrear; par t-; of said table: i i is suitably;secureda: spreader 101 :baseblock i 2 f to thee-lateral opposite ends 'of whichzare secured vertical,longitudinalside frame plates ISQand M'Q I by ,means of screws :HSor otherwise; The 'dupliis zlaidby the cashierupon :saiid itab1e "I'l-l'df ;themainframe and is pressedrearvvardlyagainstthe a base block I2 and-to the "right against var-suitably located stop; pin 17; Fig.6 isatfragmentary; vertical; transverse sec- I The numeral 20*represents"a*printing headp which extends itransverselyiracross the device and .main' portion of said headitoiormi symmetrical.

end flanges wand 2'51; Torsaidi'fianges"-ares;co-"

axially piv0ted.:.at"22 :the twointegraliarmsiof a1 7 U-shaped; operating lever 23s 'Ihe' centraLJhorizontal', connecting; portion: 24 =of isaidfioperatinglever :ispreferahlypf-such suitable" form :as to the:-

comfortably igrasped rby the handxo f sthe'icashier' opera'liingtheudevice. -V m The lower extremities o-f-fthesftwo arms of said operating "lever '2 3 are pivoted "coaxially. :at "2 5%0" thelmaintframegoftthe device. This paircofapivote.

centers 25 together withthepairof pivot centers" 22 "aforesaid :constitutera: :set or "pair ofzprimary pivetcenters. In operation; theucashier grasps 2 the middle portion 24 of the U-shaped, operating lever 23 and moves it about its pair of pivots 25 as a fulcrum and thereby carries theprinting head 23 along with it.

The rightend (see Fig. 1) of said printing head 26 is pivotedjat 26 to a main, parallel-motion link 21, the opposite end of which is pivoted at 28 to the main frame. The pivotalcenters'of the opposite ends-of this mainlink'l constitute a secondary set of. pivot centers. The distance between said centers 26 and 28 which constitute this secondary set of pivot centers is identical with the distance between the centers 22 and 25 1 of the primary set of pivot centers. The fixed coaxial centers 25 and the'main link fixed center 28 all are located in the main frame and lie in 1 one stationary plane'which is preferably a vatical, transverse plane as shown. Because of the relationship existing between the pivot distances,-

it'follows that, as the operating lever 23 is actuated; the moving pivots 22 and 26 Qwill be'in one common" moving plane'which will be at all times 9 parallel to said fixedplane, providing, however, that thelevfer 23 is not moved forwardly past the position in which all four of said pivots 25, 28 and 22, 26 lie in one common plane, 1. e.,' into a position' corresponding to the dead center position of the combination of primary and secondary pivot centers; 'In "other words, a parallel motion of the printing head is obtained when the operating lever 23 is moved back and forth, so long as the pivots 22 and 26 do not move in front of a transverse vertical plane passing through the pivots and 28'. r

Arranged; in the frame between the vertical end frameplates l3 and M of the main frame isa'suitable, horizontal, inked pad 38 resting in a contain'er'or metal trough SI as best shown in Figs. 3 and-6. jThis pad is constructed in the .usual manner of a suitableabsorbent material and is periodically supplied with ink, and is used to ink the lower printing surfaces of a pair of typefaces, viz., the body typeface 32 and the stub type face 33 whenever the operating lever is .moved to its rearmost position. Said pair of' type faces is caused to move downwardly upon said inked pad 3B-in1a constantly parallel direc- 'tion' relatively thereto, due, tothe primary and secondary sets of parallel-motion linkage aforesaid, inasmuch assaid linkage is connected with guideways is a printing block sfiwhich is provided'w'ith suitable longitudinal grooves 37 upon of a pair of spring plungers or resilient detents its flat end'faces which. are adapted to engage with the'said guideways 35 of the printing head plate 34. Lengthwise movement of the printing block 36 relatively to the printing head 20 is limited by a transverse stop flange 38 (see Fig. 6) which is secured to and depends from the lower rear part of the printing head plate 34. Movement'awayffrom or out of engagement with said stop flange 38 is resiliently restrained by means 40 which are slidably arranged within metal cups 4|. Betweenthebottom wall 42 of each of Said cups l and the bottom face of its companion detent 49 is disposed a compression spring 13 which tends to move said detent outwardly (normally upwardly), the extreme outward movement being limited by an adjustable limiting screw 4%. The nose of each resilient detent 4G is conically pointed and. is adapted to be received within or engaged with a detaining notch formed in the lower face of the printing head 2&3. The engagement of the noses of said resilientdetents it with their companion detaining notches 45 operate to resiliently restrain longitudinal movement of the printing block 35 relatively to the printing head 26., Said resilient detents also form a resilient power connection between the handle 23 and the coupon being stamped and cut. In other words, the printing face 33 is resiliently and softly pressed down on the coupon, thus preventing the spattering of ink and jar and noise. It will also be noted (see. Figs. 3 and 6) that said detents 18" are located inwardly of the outer edges' of'the printing block 35 which the latter is in its operative position. This provides a construction whereby the printing face 33 is com 3 pelled to bear down evenly upon the surface of the coupon, even though the thickness of the same is irregular or uneven (as for instance if it carries a government revenue stamp), and even though the table I! becomes warped or otherwise misaligned. To initially depress the pair of said resilent detents it whenever the printing i blockBB in which they are set, ispushedbackwards on the guideways 35, the normally lower front portion of the printing head is bevelled at 38 so as to operatein the capacity cf'a wedge and to push inwardly each of said detents fir-sh with the adjacent flat face of said printing head 2%.

Further pushing back of said printing block 35 brings the same intocontact with the aforesaid stop flange 38,1whereupon each of said detents :8 is again free to move outwardly under the influenceof its spring #3 and into resili nt engagement with 'the detaining notch aforementioned.

The type faces'32 and as may be identical with a to have a different cashier operate the device with his own individual printing block, or when, for any other reason, it becomes desirable to use a different set of type face, the whole printing block-35 is removed from the printing head ZiLand is replaced by a different printing block having secured thereto a different set of type face. This replacement of the printing block 36 is facilitated by the employment of a convenient knob or handle it which is suitably secured to the front face of said block and is adapt- 1 upper end is'floatably pivoted at 59 to the print ing head upon a retractive shaft 5! slidably and rotatably arranged horizontally and transversely in the endflange l9 and in the journals 52 and 53 in the printing head 28. The upper floating center 58 of said floatable link 48 and the lower vented against lateral outward movement while lateral inward movement is restrained by a bridge H made of a U-shaped rod which straddles said connecting rod and has its oppositeends suit ably secured to the aforesaid-end flange I 9.v The operating lever 23 is provided with an integral tilting cam-i2 which is formed on the inner face of the left arm thereof and projects downwardly y from the left pivot 2 2.-.The operation of this team 12 with the aforesaid controlling: fingerSB is 1 as follows: a

With the printing blockin its rearmost posi tion,.if the actuating arm 58 is moved forwardly, the crank collar 55 isalso rotatedand this throws :the connecting rods"! forward. Inasmuch as the guide slot?!) is inclined; this forward movement of the connecting rod 61 causes a'forward and upward: movement of the'controlling finger 68 along thepath caused by said slot 10, arriving finally at the past dead center position showndn; Figs. 5 and '7 where the thrust against the end of said finger 68 is carried bythe'square side, 69..

of the collar 55. In the meantime and simultaneously therewith, the floatable link-i8 and the distancing link 6!, although still pivotally connected together at their common floating center 50, have said common floating center discon nected from the printing head 28 due to themward movement of the retractive shaft 5 i. If now the operating lever 23 is movedforward, the printinghead 28 will initially be only under the con I trol of the primary andsecondary linkages having their. pivots at'22, 25 and '26, 28 respectively, but in this initial movement, the printing head 20 is under very definite control 'due to the fact that the stability of said printing head is determined by the distance between the two parallel planes intersectingfsaid primary and second pivot pushed rearwardly to its initial position.

sets, and this distance is, initially, relatively large.

This distance, however, diminishes as we approach the dead-center position, where all the primary and secondary pivot sets lie in one single plane. I However, just before said printing head 20 arrives 'at this dead-center position, the afore-. saidcontrolling finger 68 has come into contact .ith the lower rear face of thetilting cam 12. Thereupon a further'movement forward of the operating lever 23 causes said printing head to bedefinitely forced to move into a certain one -of its two, past-dead-center positions, in this case into theposition in which the upper pivot 26 of the main link 27 is caused to lag behind the upper pivot 22 of the main lever. Thiscauses the printing head 20 to be turned over, or reversed into the position shown by dotted lines in Fig. 5, thereby turning the type faces 32 and 33 face up. This renders convenient the usual daily operation of changing the date which is printed by said type faces, and'also the inspection, cleaning, repair or.

3p and pick upa thin even film of ink which, when said operating lever is moved forward, will be pressed upon the two sections of the duplicate .bill l6. 'v v 1 A movable; knife blade 13 (see Fig; 1), having its left side face arranged flat and perpendicular and its right-face bevelled to form a suitable lower cutting or shearing edge 14, ispivoted at 15 to themain frame. This movable knife blade is adapted to shearer cut the duplicate bill IS between the lower sharpened edge !4 of said knife blade and the upper sharpened edge Hi of a stationary knife blade or longitudinal cutting bar T!.; The latter isarranged against thevertical left face or wall of a slot 18 formed in the table H of the main frame and is suitably secured to said frame by a numberof screws .80 which pass horizontally and transversely through said cutting bar T1 and into the adjacent portion of the main frame. The knife blade 73 is resiliently held in its elevatedposition by means of a tension spring 8| whose upper end is pivotally connected to said knife blade at 82 and whose lower end is suitably secured to the main frame by an eye screw 83 or otherwise. The upward movement of said knife bladegi's limited bya stop 84 which is suitably secured-to the main frame and is adapted to bear against. thelower rear .face of said knife blade when the latter is in its extreme elevated position.

It will be noticed that said spring 8| is arranged at an oblique angle. This arrangementprovides not only for the. resilient raising of the knife blade but also for resiliently forcing the same sidewise into clean cutting contact with thecuttingbar 1! at all positionsof said knife blade. Thus the knife cuts clean and sharp even when the parts are considerably worn after pro-,

longed use.

The cashier lays the duplicate bill [6 on the table II of the, main frame and pushes it back againstthe'base block, I2 and also to the right against the stop pin. I! so that the division line between the body 85 of said duplicate billand the stub 86 thereof is directly under the left or flat face of the knife blade13. Thereupon the operating lever 23 is moved forwardly, the act u: ating armia being'ini this case in itsjrearmost position. Thecentral part of the normally lower face of the printing block 36 is provided with a depressing face 87 which is preferably lined with a metal depressing strip 88 whose front andrear ends are bent up against the vertical front and rear adjacent faces of said printing block 36, the rear end being secured by a suitable wood screw 90 and its front end by the screw shank of the knob 48 aforementioned. As the'operating lever 23 is moved forwardly, said depressing strip 88 comes into contact with the upper fiat edge of the knifeblade 73, and a continued forward movement of said operating lever causes said knife blade to be depressed to the-dotted. line position of Fig. 4. This action operates to move the lower or sharpened edge 134' of said knife blade 13 below the upper or sharpened edge 16 of the cutting bar part of said stub, constituting the bulk of its weight, has been positioned over arectangular aperture 9| which is preferably covered over by a raised, stationary roof '92 which is preferably constructed of sheet metal and is suitably secured to the main frame. The severed stub 86 falls of its .own unbalanced weight down through said aperture 9! and drops into a drawer 93 which is adapted to collect the accumulated stubs for purposes of filing. This drawer is periodically opened by ineans of a convenient knob or drawer pull 94 and: emptied, and then slid back in place and selever 23 is raised; Thereupon said stub isfree, to

fall down through aforesaid aperture Qlinto the drawer 93 beneath as aforesaid. When the operator is through using the device for the day, he moves the operating lever. 23 forward and throws up andforward'the double-hinged, metal dust cover 95 so as to protect the'inked padtt from dust accumulation. and ink evaporation.

The operation of the device is as follows;

If the operator, in starting to use the device, desires to use his individual printingblock or any other special printing block in place of the printing block then in place, he grasps the printing'blockhandle 94, slides out the not required printing block 36 and replaces it with the desired printing block carrying thereon another pairof type faces 32 and 33. If, however, he only desires to inspect, clean, .repair or alter the date, etc..of

. the existing printing block, he merely throws the actuatingarmit forwardly and also moves the operating lever 23 forwardly, whereupon the said, printing block 36 is turned upside down as per dotted lines of 'Fig. 5 with the type faces 32 and 33 face up. When the desired operation uponsaid type faces has been completed, he throws the dust cover tt back out of the way and thereby un covers-the inked pad 39/ He then moves the operating lever 23 rearwardly and then throws back the actuating arm 58. Then he locates in proper position. the first duplicate bill it by placing the same back against the base block'i2 and to the right against the stop pin ll, and pulls the operat ing lever 23 forward to the dotted line position of Fig. 4. This causes-the main body '85 and the stub 86 ofthe duplicate bill it to be independently stamped by type faces 32 and 33 respectively. Simultaneously the knife blade 13 has been de pressed, and this results'in the cutting off of said stub 86, which, when the operating lever 23 is moved back, falls down through the aperture 9i and into the drawer 93 which is iperiodicmly emptied of stamped stubs.

I claim as myinvention:

l. A duplicate bill Stamper and cutter comprising a frame; a printing head carrying a type face; an operating lever pivoted to said frame and to said printing head upon a primary set of pivot center s; a main parallelmotion link also pivoted to said frame and to said printing head but upon a secondary set of pivot centers, so that said lever and said main link have a dead center position; a floatable parallel-motion link likewise pivoted to said frame and printing head but upon a tertiary set of pivot centers, one of which is a floating center; and a distancing link perm'aa to said frame and to said printing head but a secondary set of pivot centers, so that said lever and said main link have a, dead center position; and'acontrolling finger which may be optionally moved so as to-cause a definitemovementof said printing head on one side of said dead center posi-' tion when said printing headis moved.

3. A-duplicate bill stamper and cutter comprising a frame; a printinghead-carrying a typeface;

an operating lever pivoted-to said frame and to said printing head upon a primary set of :pi-v o,t

centers; amain parallel-motion link also pivoted.

to said frame and to said printing hea'd-butrupon a secondary set'of pivot centers, so that said lever andsaid main linkhave'a dead center position;

a :fioatable, parallel-motion linklikewise pivoted.

to saidframe and said printing ihead but upon a tertiary set of pivot centers, oneof which is a floating center; a distancing link permanently pivoted at'its opposite ends, one endlofwhich is upon said floating center of=said floatable link;

a. controlling finger which may be optionally '7 moved so as to cause a definite movement "of said printing block .on cneside of saiddead-:center position when seidprinting headis actuated; :and

means" for "optionally moving said :controlling M finger into either'operativeor inoperative position and"simultaneouslyeither uncoupling or couplingthe common floa'tingcenter of said'floatable link andsaid distancing link. I .4. A duplicate bill Stamper and cutter'comprising a frame; a printing head carrying atype face; an operating lever pivotedito s'aidframe and to saidprinting headupona'primaryset of p'ivot I centers; a main parallel-motion link also. pivoted.

to said frame and to said printing "head but upon a secondary set of :pivot centers so that said lever a tertiary set*of.. pivot centers, one of which is' :permanently on said frame; a distancing link pivoted at its opposite ends to said floata'ble link and to said printing head; and optional means for preventing movement of said distancing link.

ing a frame; a printing head carrying aty'pe face; an operating lever pivoted to said frame and to said printing head upon a primary :set of pivot centers; a main parallel-m'o'tionlink also pivoted to said frame and to'said printing headbut upon a secondary setof pivotcenters so that said lever V and said main link have a deadcenter-position;

afloatable parallel-motion link likewise pivoted to said frame and to said printing head, but upon a tertiary set of pivot centers, one of which is permanently ,on said frame; 'a distancing link pivoted at itsopposite ends to said floatable link and to said printing head; and optional means for simultaneously preventing movement of said distancing link and for controlling which of two movements the printing blockwill make when it a secondary set of pivot centers, so that said lever and said main link have a dead center position; and a singly actuated means for controlling the movement of said printing block on both sides of its dead center position so as to cause either a 5."Aduplicate bill stamperand cutt'er compristranslatory movement of said printing head or a reversal thereof.

7. A duplicate bill stamper and cutter comprising aframe; a printing head carrying a typeface; an operating lever pivoted to said frame and to saidprinting head upon a primary set of pivot centers; a main parallel-motion link also pivoted to said-frame and to saidprinting head but upon asecondary set of pivot centers, so that said lever 'and 'said main link have a dead center-position; a'

floatable parallel-motion link likewise pivoted to .said frame and to said printing head but upon a tertiary 'set of: pivot centers, oneof which is permanently on said frame and the other of which is floatable' on said printing'head and is provided with a.-clearancenotch; a distancing link pivoted at one end to said printing head and at, its other end to said floating center of said floatable link; a retractive shaft mounted on said printing head and adapted to fix the fioating pivot center of said-floatable link and said distancing link; and a retaining finger secured to said retractive shaft and adapted-to optionally either prevent a movement of said shaft orrto pass through saidcleare ance notchand to allow a movement of said shaft when thesaid'floatable and; distancing links are in one certain relationship only.

8. A duplicate bill stamper and cutter comprising a frame; a printing head; an operating'lever having a cam and pivoted to said frame and said head upon a primary set'of pivot centers; a main parallel-motion link also. pivoted to said frame and said head but upon a secondary set of pivot centers so as to. create a dead center position; a

distancing link and a fioatable link floatably pivoted togetherfat companion ends and pivoted at their other. ends to said head and said frame respectively; -a retractive shaftmounted on said head and adapted to efix said common floating center of said floatable and distancing links; a

crank collar connected with said retractive shaft;

and a controllingfinger connected with said crank 'collarqand adapted to bear against said cam on said operating lever and thereby control the pastdead-center movement of the printing head.

9.- A duplicate bill stamper and cutter comprising a printing head; a printing block slidably arranged thereunder; a type face arrangedvuponsaid printing block; and resilient means for preventing sliding disengagement of said printing block from said printing head, the force of said resilient means being exerted in a direction perpendicular to said typeface.

\ l0. nduplicate bill stamper and cutter comprising a printing headhavin'g a guideway; a printingblock formed to slide upon said guideway; a type face upon said printing block; and means for resiliently preventing sliding disengagement of said printing block from said tovsaid'type face.-

12.'Aduplicate billrstamper and cutter-comprising a printing head having a detaining notch and an entering cam face; laterally inturned flanges arranged at the opposite ,longitudinal edges of said head; a printing block; a type face thereon, and a resilient detent arranged in said printing block and adapted. to initially be depressed by the entering cam face of said printing headvand thereafter to. resiliently engage with said detaining notch,

13. A duplicate bill stamper and cutter com prising a frame; a knife blade pivoted on said frame; a printing head movably arranged on said frame and having an entering camface and a detainingnotch; laterally inturned flanges forming a guideway arranged at the opposite longitudinal edges of said printing head a stop flange arranged at the rear end of saidprinting head; a printing block adapted to slidably engage with said guideway and to bear against said stop and provided with a depressing face adapted to bear upon said knife blade; and a resilient detent secured to said printing block and adapted to resiliently engage with said detaining notch. f

' 14. A duplicate'bill stamper and cutter comprisin'ga printing head having a guideway; a printing block carrying a printing face and adapted to slide in saidguideway; and a resilient detent adapted to prevent disengagement of said block from said guideway and exerting its resilient force in a direction perpendicular to said printing face and located inwardly of the outer edges of the printing block when the latter is in its operative position.

EDWARD D.C \IBSON. 

